Tweet
First Xbox 360 prototype controller pictures?
A mysterious thread popped up last night on the well-known Team Xbox forums and has since drawn a lot of attention. The thread starter, avid_xero, posted a picture of what is seemingly a prototype Xbox 360 controller (or an official mock up of one), which he claims he got from another TXB user. Now, generally, something like this is immediately suspected of being the result of a lot of free time and Photoshop skills, but these controller pictures actually have some merit.
First, I need to explain something. In case you don't know, a site called Ourcolony.net started recently. Though it says "Not An Alternate Reality Game," it seems to indeed be an ARG. What's that? Well, do you remember ilovebees and Halo 2 (click here to refresh your memory)? Ourcolony seems to be a similar case of unique hype-starting, in this case for the Xbox 2. This argument is further helped by the fact that J. Allard, chief XNA architect for Microsoft, was seen back at the Game Developers Conference wearing a t-shirt with the same ant logo as Ourcolony.net.
Upon signing up at Ourcolony, you can either create your own "horde" or join an existing one. Hordes are presented with challenges, which they can then complete for "Horde Points," though how exactly all of this works is kind of complicated (I don't even fully understand it). Anyway, one of the rewards for a challenge was two pictures of what appear to be parts of a controller, immediately assumed to be the Xbox 360 controller. Here they are:
Now, back to the TXB thread. The original controller picture posted there and the other subsequent pictures found, look very similar to the Ourcolony partial pictures, indicating that they could indeed be legitimate pictures of a prototype Xbox 2 controller / official mockup. Also, Team Xbox's horde is one of the leading hordes (currently 2nd) at Ourcolony, so that could explain how they could get their hands on more pictures.
The controller is similar in shape and layout to the current standard S-controller for the Xbox. The four face buttons (A, B, X, and Y) are still there, the left and right triggers are still there, and the dual analog sticks and d-pad are still there. However, there are some very noticeable differences.
Front of the controller:
The most noticeable difference is that the controller is white, but that's not necessarily the final color. Remember, if this is indeed a prototype, that could just be a 'placeholder' color. Still, white would fit with all of the 'light' talk (more on that below).
Notice how the black and white buttons have been removed and have been replaced by left and right shoulder buttons, above the left and right triggers. The start and select buttons are now on either side of what appears to be a circle-shaped button in the center. This button has received perhaps the most attention of any of the new controller elements. Early reports say that this is a power button, which would make sense since this controller is wireless (just like how Nintendo's Wavebird has an on/off switch, since it requires batteries). When turned on, a ring of green reportedly lights up around the button, which would also make sense. Why? Well, many people think Xbox 360 will be the final name of the next Xbox console. Back in February, Kotaku.com claimed to have received some Xbox 360 info from an inside source. They stated that the Xbox 360 will feature a power button dubbed the "Ring of Light" and that Microsoft would use a "Circle of Light" ad campaign. Another thing to think about: the main page of Ourcolony features a prominent 'bubble' with light emanating from its center.
Since it's not a very clear image, it's also been speculated that this 'button' could actually be a trackball. As far as I know, though, there's been nothing in the past to indicate that Microsoft would add a trackball.
Back of the controller:
There appears to be a battery compartment on the back of the controller, which would lend credence to the reports that Microsoft will be going with wireless controllers for its next Xbox.
All of the above differences match up with the info found in this story, also from back in February. A British tech site called The Inquirer reported that the Xbox 2's controller would be similar in design to the Xbox's S-controller, but would not feature the white & black buttons. Also, GamesIndustry.biz reported that it had received confirmation from Xbox 2 devs that the controller would be wireless.
Phew. I've tried to break all this down as clear as I can. That's a lot of info to think about, but it all seems to make sense. Of course, this is unofficial for now. Hopefully more clarification and perhaps confirmation will come soon.
Here are two more pictures, ironically of a Sony PSP displaying a picture of the controller, with the infamous Ourcolony ant logo in the background.
First, I need to explain something. In case you don't know, a site called Ourcolony.net started recently. Though it says "Not An Alternate Reality Game," it seems to indeed be an ARG. What's that? Well, do you remember ilovebees and Halo 2 (click here to refresh your memory)? Ourcolony seems to be a similar case of unique hype-starting, in this case for the Xbox 2. This argument is further helped by the fact that J. Allard, chief XNA architect for Microsoft, was seen back at the Game Developers Conference wearing a t-shirt with the same ant logo as Ourcolony.net.
Upon signing up at Ourcolony, you can either create your own "horde" or join an existing one. Hordes are presented with challenges, which they can then complete for "Horde Points," though how exactly all of this works is kind of complicated (I don't even fully understand it). Anyway, one of the rewards for a challenge was two pictures of what appear to be parts of a controller, immediately assumed to be the Xbox 360 controller. Here they are:
Now, back to the TXB thread. The original controller picture posted there and the other subsequent pictures found, look very similar to the Ourcolony partial pictures, indicating that they could indeed be legitimate pictures of a prototype Xbox 2 controller / official mockup. Also, Team Xbox's horde is one of the leading hordes (currently 2nd) at Ourcolony, so that could explain how they could get their hands on more pictures.
The controller is similar in shape and layout to the current standard S-controller for the Xbox. The four face buttons (A, B, X, and Y) are still there, the left and right triggers are still there, and the dual analog sticks and d-pad are still there. However, there are some very noticeable differences.
Front of the controller:
The most noticeable difference is that the controller is white, but that's not necessarily the final color. Remember, if this is indeed a prototype, that could just be a 'placeholder' color. Still, white would fit with all of the 'light' talk (more on that below).
Notice how the black and white buttons have been removed and have been replaced by left and right shoulder buttons, above the left and right triggers. The start and select buttons are now on either side of what appears to be a circle-shaped button in the center. This button has received perhaps the most attention of any of the new controller elements. Early reports say that this is a power button, which would make sense since this controller is wireless (just like how Nintendo's Wavebird has an on/off switch, since it requires batteries). When turned on, a ring of green reportedly lights up around the button, which would also make sense. Why? Well, many people think Xbox 360 will be the final name of the next Xbox console. Back in February, Kotaku.com claimed to have received some Xbox 360 info from an inside source. They stated that the Xbox 360 will feature a power button dubbed the "Ring of Light" and that Microsoft would use a "Circle of Light" ad campaign. Another thing to think about: the main page of Ourcolony features a prominent 'bubble' with light emanating from its center.
Since it's not a very clear image, it's also been speculated that this 'button' could actually be a trackball. As far as I know, though, there's been nothing in the past to indicate that Microsoft would add a trackball.
Back of the controller:
There appears to be a battery compartment on the back of the controller, which would lend credence to the reports that Microsoft will be going with wireless controllers for its next Xbox.
All of the above differences match up with the info found in this story, also from back in February. A British tech site called The Inquirer reported that the Xbox 2's controller would be similar in design to the Xbox's S-controller, but would not feature the white & black buttons. Also, GamesIndustry.biz reported that it had received confirmation from Xbox 2 devs that the controller would be wireless.
Phew. I've tried to break all this down as clear as I can. That's a lot of info to think about, but it all seems to make sense. Of course, this is unofficial for now. Hopefully more clarification and perhaps confirmation will come soon.
Here are two more pictures, ironically of a Sony PSP displaying a picture of the controller, with the infamous Ourcolony ant logo in the background.
Source: gamesarefun.com
Comment